Diascia plant named ‘Balwhispum’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Diascia  plant named ‘Balwhispum’ characterized by its deep orange-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and vigorous, mounded and spreading growth habit.

Latin name of genus and species of plant claimed: Diascia×hybrida.

Variety denomination: ‘Balwhispum’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant botanically known as Diascia×hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Balwhispum’.

The new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program in Guadalupe, Calif. during December 2002. The objective of the breeding program was the development of Diascia cultivars with continuous flowering, medium green-colored foliage, and well-branched, vigorous, mounded and spreading growth habit.

The female (seed) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Diascia×hybrida breeding selection designated 3796b-2, not patented, characterized by its deep orange-colored flowers, small-size dark green-colored foliage, and upright spreading growth habit. The male (pollen) parent of the new cultivar was the proprietary Diascia×hybrida breeding selection designated 3402-3-8-1, not patented, characterized by its apricot-colored flowers, medium green-colored foliage, and upright growth habit. The new Diascia was discovered and selected by the inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the above stated cross-pollination during March 2003 in a controlled environment at Guadalupe, Calif.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since March 2003 at Guadalupe, Calif. and West Chicago, Ill. has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following characteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed and can be used to distinguish ‘Balwhispum’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant:

-   -   1. Deep orange-colored flowers;     -   2. Medium green-colored foliage; and     -   3. Vigorous, mounded and spreading growth habit.

Plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of the female parent primarily in foliage color and growth habit and from plants of the male parent primarily in flower color and growth habit.

Of the many commercially available Diascia cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new cultivar is ‘Balwhistang’, not patented. However, in side by side comparisons, plants of the new cultivar differ from plants of ‘Balwhistang’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new cultivar have darker foliage color than         plants of ‘Balwhistang’; and     -   2. Plants of the new cultivar have fewer flowers than plants of         ‘Balwhistang’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this type, typical flower and foliage characteristics of the new cultivar. Colors in the photographs differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed description, which accurately describes the colors of ‘Balwhispum’. The plants were grown in 10 cm pots for 7 weeks in a greenhouse at West Chicago, Ill.

FIG. 1 illustrates a side view of the overall growth and flowering habit of ‘Balwhispum’.

FIG. 2 illustrates a close-up view of an individual flower of ‘Balwhispum’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new cultivar has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in the environment, such as temperature, light intensity, and day length, without, however, any variance in genotype.

The chart used in the identification of colors described herein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, 2001 edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used. The color values were determined on Jul. 12, 2005 between 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. under natural light conditions, in West Chicago, Ill.

The following descriptions and measurements describe plants produced from cuttings taken from stock plants and grown in a double polycarbonate-covered greenhouse under conditions comparable to those used in commercial practice. The plants were grown at West Chicago, Ill. in 10 cm pots for 7 weeks utilizing a soilless growth medium. Greenhouse temperatures were maintained at approximately 62° F. to 75° F. (17° C. to 24° C.) during the day and approximately 52° F. to 60° F. (11° C. to 15° C.) during the night. Greenhouse light levels of 5,000 to 8,000 footcandles were maintained during the day.

-   Botanical classification: Diascia×hybrida cultivar Balwhispum. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—Proprietary Diascia×hybrida breeding             selection designated 3796b-2, not patented.         -   Male parent.—Proprietary Diascia×hybrida breeding selection             designated 3402-3-8-1, not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal stem.         -   Time to initiate roots.—Approximately 6 to 9 days.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—Approximately 21 to 28             days.         -   Root description.—Fibrous.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching. -   Plant description:     -   -   Crop time.—Approximately 5 to 7 weeks from a rooted cutting.         -   Growth habit and general appearance.—Vigorous, mounded and             spreading.         -   Size.—Height from soil level to top of plant plane:             Approximately 21.6 cm. Width: Approximately 49.0 cm.         -   Branching habit.—Freely basal branching. Pinching improves             branching. Approximately 6 branches per plant with lateral             branches potentially forming at every node.         -   Branch.—Strength: Moderate. Shape: Square in cross section.             Length: Approximately 28.7 cm. Diameter: Approximately             1.9 mm. Texture: Glabrous. Color: Closest to 144A. Internode             length at center of branch: Approximately 2.2 cm.         -   Foliage.—Number of leaves per main branch: Approximately 11.             Fragrance: None. Form: Simple. Arrangement: Opposite.             Aspect: Petiole is at an acute angle to stem and leaf blade             is at a right angle to stem. Shape: Ovate. Margin: Dentate.             Apex: Mucronate. Base: Cordate. Venation pattern: Pinnate.             Length of mature leaf: Approximately 2.6 cm. Width of mature             leaf: Approximately 1.9 cm. Texture of upper and lower             surfaces: Glabrous. Color of upper surface of mature             foliage: Slightly more yellow than 137A with venation of             143B. Color of lower surface of mature foliage: 138B with             venation of 144B. Petiole length: Approximately 4.6 mm.             Petiole diameter: Approximately 1.3 mm. Petiole texture:             Glabrous. Petiole color of upper surface: 143B. Petiole             color of lower surface: 144B. -   Flowering description:     -   -   Flowering habit.—‘Balwhispum’ is freely flowering under             outdoor growing conditions with substantially continuous             blooming from spring through autumn and year round in             greenhouse environment.         -   Time to first flower.—Approximately 9.5 weeks from sticking             of an unrooted cutting.         -   Lastingness of individual bloom.—Approximately 3 to 4 days. -   Flower description:     -   -   Type.—Solitary, five lobed and zygomorphic. Quantity per             plant: Approximately 65 at 7 weeks. Arrangement: Terminal             racemes. Fragrance: None.         -   Bud rate of opening.—Generally takes 3 to 4 days for bud to             progress from first color to fully open flower.         -   Bud just before opening.—Shape: Globular. Length:             Approximately 6.8 mm. Width: Approximately 6.7 mm. Texture:             Glabrous. Color: Closest to 38D.         -   Corolla.—Shape: Oval. Width: Approximately 1.7 cm. Length:             Approximately 1.8 cm. Depth: Approximately 6.6 mm.         -   Petals.—Quantity: 5 fused at base with upper and lateral             petals forming spurs. Shape: Obovate. Aspect: Cupped.             Appearance: Iridescent. Margin: Entire. Apex: Obtuse.         -   Two upper petals.—Length: Approximately 4.1 mm. Width of             each: Approximately 4.4 mm. Texture of upper surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower surface: Stipulate-glandular.             Gland color: N79B. Color of upper surface: Closest to 35A.             Color of lower surface: 38A. Length of indentation at base:             Approximately 2.8 mm. Width of indentation at base:             Approximately 3.4 mm. Color of indentation at base: 9C in             center surrounded by N79B.         -   Two lateral petals.—Length: Approximately 5.0 mm. Width:             Approximately 6.3 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Stipulate-glandular. Gland color:             N79B. Color of upper surface: 35A. Color of lower surface:             38A.         -   Single lower petal.—Length: Approximately 8.6 mm. Width:             Approximately 9.0 mm. Texture of upper surface: Glabrous.             Texture of lower surface: Stipulate-glandular at base. Gland             color: N79B. Color of upper surface: Closest to 35A. Color             of lower surface: 38A.         -   Nectar spur.—Quantity: 2 per flower. Length: Approximately             7.0 mm. Diameter at base: Approximately 2.2 mm. Diameter at             tip: Approximately 1.1 mm. Texture of outer surface:             Sparsely pubescent, stipulate-glandular. Texture of inner             surface: Glabrous with glands at tip. Color: Between 62C and             62D. Gland color: N81A.         -   Pedicel.—Strength: Moderate. Aspect: Acute angle to stem.             Length: Approximately 1.0 cm. Diameter: Approximately             0.2 mm. Texture: Stipulate-glandular. Color: 143B. Gland             color: N79A.         -   Calyx.—Shape: Five-pointed star. Width: Approximately             4.7 mm. Length: Approximately 2.2 mm.         -   Sepals.—Quantity per flower: 5. Shape: Lanceolate. Apex:             Acute. Margin: Entire. Length: Approximately 2.2 mm. Width:             Approximately 1.0 mm. Texture of upper or inner surface:             Glabrous. Texture of lower or outer surface:             Stipulate-glandular. Color: 143A. Gland color: N79B.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen quantity: 4.             Filament length: Approximately 2.5 mm. Filament texture:             Sparsely pubescent. Filament color: N77A at apex,             transitioning to 64B at base. Anther shape: Oval, bi-lobed.             Anther length: Approximately 0.7 mm. Anther color: 12C.             Pollen amount: Abundant. Pollen color: 13A. Gynoecium:             Pistil quantity: One per flower. Pistil length:             Approximately 3.0 mm. Stigma shape: Round. Stigma length:             Approximately 0.3 mm. Stigma color: 154B. Style length:             Approximately 1.2 mm. Style color: 154C. Ovary length:             Approximately 1.5 mm. Ovary color: N144D. -   Seed and fruit production: Neither seed nor fruit production has     been observed. -   Disease and pest resistance: Resistance to pathogens and pests     common to Diascia has not been observed. 

1. A new and distinct cultivar of Diascia plant named ‘Balwhispum’, substantially as herein shown and described. 